City Comparison
Bethlehem vs Hazleton
Cost of living, salaries, climate and quality of life compared side by side.
VS
Bethlehem scores higher overall
Performance
Score Breakdown
Bethlehem
Hazleton
Livability
Affordability
Business
Growth
Expenses
Cost of Living
Hazleton is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run about
1% lower than in Bethlehem.
Housing costs are a major driver: Bethlehem's average rent is
33% higher than Hazleton's.
| Metric | Bethlehem | Hazleton | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | $1,800 | $1,350 | +33% |
| Groceries | $450 | $400 | +13% |
| Utilities | $227 | $349 | -35% |
| Transport | $60 | $360 | -83% |
| Healthcare | $250 | $293 | -15% |
| Monthly Total | $2,787 | $2,752 | +1% |
| Cost Index | 95 | 101 | out of 100 |
Income
Salary & Income
Hazleton offers 1% lower average salaries.
However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Bethlehem delivers stronger purchasing power —
meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day.
The minimum comfortable salary in Bethlehem is estimated at
$55,000 vs $45,000 in Hazleton.
| Metric | Bethlehem | Hazleton |
|---|---|---|
| Average Salary | $49,276 | $49,688 |
| Salary Needed | $55,000 | $45,000 |
| Purchasing Power | 51,869 idx | 49,196 idx |
| Household Income | $68,879 | $46,177 |
Weather
Climate Comparison
Bethlehem runs warmer on average — a 53.2°F difference year-round.
For sunshine, Bethlehem comes out ahead with 249 more sunny days per year,
which can meaningfully impact mood and outdoor lifestyle.
Winter severity differs too — Bethlehem sees 18.1 more inches of snowfall annually.
| Metric | Bethlehem | Hazleton |
|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 53.20°F | °F |
| Summer High | 82.90°F | °F |
| Winter Low | 22.70°F | °F |
| Rainfall | 39.40 in | in |
| Snowfall | 18.10 in | in |
| Sunny Days | 249 | |
| Humidity | % | 69.00% |
Mobility
Commute & Transport
Both cities have comparable commute times, within 1 minutes of each other.
Hazleton scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living.
For walkability, Hazleton leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
| Metric | Bethlehem | Hazleton |
|---|---|---|
| Commute Time | 22 min | 21 min |
| Transit Score | — | 25.0/100 |
| Walkability | — | 30.0/100 |
| Traffic Index | 40.00 | |
| Car Dependency | Medium | High |
Population
Economy & Demographics
Bethlehem is the larger city
— approximately 2.5x the population of Hazleton.
From a growth perspective, Bethlehem is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services.
On the employment side, Bethlehem has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
| Metric | Bethlehem | Hazleton |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 80,563 | 32,657 |
| Pop. Growth | 1.15% | 0.31% |
| Median Age | 36.1 | 37.5 |
| Unemployment | 4.50% | 7.40% |
| GDP | — | — |
At a Glance
Pros & Cons
Bethlehem
Advantages
Bethlehem's population is projected to grow by 1.15% annually in 2026, indicating a growing and dynamic community.
The median household income in Bethlehem was $68,879 in 2024, showing a 3.67% one-year growth.
The average rent in Bethlehem is 5% below the national average as of September 2026, making it a more affordable place to live.
The median property value in Bethlehem increased by 10.1% in 2024, suggesting a healthy real estate market for homeowners.
The cost of home care in Bethlehem is approximately 16% lower than the Pennsylvania average and 22% lower than the national average as of September 2026.
Drawbacks
The poverty rate in Bethlehem was 15.69% in 2026.
While rent is generally affordable, it has increased by 3.4% in the past year as of September 2026.
The median individual income in Bethlehem was $36,225 in 2024, which is lower than the median household income.
Home prices fell about 2.4% a year between 2015 and 2024, an unusual pattern compared to rising rents.
The percentage of uninsured citizens in Bethlehem grew by 5.37% between 2023 and 2024.
Hazleton
Advantages
Median home sale price increased by 13.3% year-over-year as of June 2026, indicating a growing housing market.
Housing costs are significantly lower than the national average, making it more affordable to live.
Violent crime rates are below the U.S. average, contributing to a safer community environment.
The city has a positive job growth rate of 2.56% from June 2025 to June 2026.
Pennsylvania ranks among the top states for new business survival, suggesting a supportive entrepreneurial climate.
Drawbacks
Unemployment rate in Hazleton was 7.40% in June 2026, higher than the national average.
Utility prices are estimated to be 15% higher than the national average.
Transportation expenses are 13% higher than the national average, and car dependency is high.
A significant portion of Hazleton families (25.0%) live in poverty.
Conflicting data on cost of living index makes overall affordability assessment challenging.
Explore
Dive Deeper
Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.
Bethlehem
#295Pennsylvania, USA
61.3 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,800
Avg Salary
$49,276
Cost Index
95
Commute
22 min
Transit Score
—
Walkability
—
Sunny Days
249/yr
Avg Temp
53.20°F
Pop. Growth
1.15%
Unemployment
4.50%
Livability
74
Business
68
Hazleton
#516Pennsylvania, USA
51.4 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,350
Avg Salary
$49,688
Cost Index
101
Commute
21 min
Transit Score
25.0/100
Walkability
30.0/100
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
0.31%
Unemployment
7.40%
Livability
72
Business
65
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